Sam strengthens in a hurricane and continues to intensify rapidly

(CNN) – Sam has strengthened into a hurricane, the seventh of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the 5 a.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Sam now has 120km / h winds with even stronger gusts. It moves west at 24 km / h and is approximately 2,300 km east-southeast of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Hurricane Sam is forecast to continue to intensify rapidly, likely becoming a major hurricane by Saturday afternoon.

Where do the names of the storms come from?

Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone intensifies to at least 56 km / h in 24 hours. Sam started Thursday with 35 mph winds and finished the day with 112 mph.

For the next five days, Sam will move towards the Leeward Islands and turn slightly to the north as he approaches the islands.